Written Answers
Trade And Commerce
League Of Nations Palace (Contracts)
asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he will endeavour to arrange that there should be a greater sub-division of the outstanding contracts for the League of Nations Palace at Geneva in order that British firms may quote for those parts of the contracts where their disadvantages are least marked, for example, locks?
I appreciate the point raised by the hon. Member, and will inquire into the matter.
Imports
asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and value of the following imports in 1932; of glue from the Soviet Union, Germany, Belgium and France; of skins and furs, unenumerated, dressed (not leather), from the Soviet Union, Germany, France and British India; of soap, hard (excluding toilet, shaving and abrasive), from the Soviet Union, United States and France; of linen piece goods from the Soviet Union and Belgium; of confectionery from the Soviet Union, the United States and Canada; and of ready-made wooden doors from the Soviet Union, the United States, Sweden and Canada?
I have had a statement prepared which I am forwarding to the Noble Lady.
Government Departments (Temporary Staffs)
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many women who have qualified for establishment under the Report of Committee E have failed to obtain establishment by reason of their age?
I regret that it will be some months yet before complete information is available as regards the number of persons above the maximum age limit for establishment under the recommendations of the Temporary Staffs Committee.
Night Telephone Operators
asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the fact that the majority of telephone operators working at night are disabled ex-service men, he will assure the House that as far as possible they will not be replaced by a female staff?
It is not the intention to displace by female staff any existing night telephone operators whose telephone occupation represents their main source of livelihood.
India (Periodical Interception)
asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that a recent number of the journal, "United India," London, published by Mr. G. S. Dara, has been intercepted by the authorities in the Punjab from delivery at certain addresses because it contained a New Year message to India from certain Members of Parliament, the Congress League, and the Gandhi Society, London; and on what grounds objection was taken to this message?
I have no information as to the grounds on which any recent copy of this periodical may have been intercepted. The matter is one within the discretion of the authorities in India.
Unemployment (Work Schemes)
asked the Minister of Labour how many schemes for the provision of work for the unemployed have been approved during the last 18 months; and what is the total value of such
| The following table shows the number and estimated value of schemes approved for grant of State financial assistance under the Development Act, 1929, since 1st September, 1931, together with the average number of persons directly employed on the schemes over the period September, 1931, to February, 1933:— | |||||
| Type of Scheme. | Number of Schemes. | Estimated "Value. | Average numbers directly employed. | ||
| £ | |||||
| Schemes assisted under Part I of the Development Act (Lewis Committee). | 6 | 495,983 | 100 | ||
| Schemes assisted under Part II of the Development Act {Unemployment Grants Committee). | 254 | (a) | 4,324,000 | (a) | 5,400 |
| (a) Excluding 21 other schemes of an estimated value of £495,000 which were approved but subsequently withdrawn. | |||||
| The figures given include all schemes approved for grant under the Act since 1st September, 1931, whether the application for grant was made before or after that date. | |||||
Chinese Railways (Former British Employes' Claims)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further information as to the settlement by the Chinese Government of claims by former British employés of Chinese railways for moneys due to them under their agreement at the termination of their services?
Arrangements have now been completed for payment of the claims of former employés of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, and the Hunan-Hupei (Cantonliankow) Railway, at a figure agreed upon between the Ministry of Railways and the claimants. In both cases payment of the first instalment has already been made to His Majesty's Consul at Nanking, and the amount is being distributed by him. The Tientsin-Pukow Raillwav Administration proposes to make payment in three equal monthly instalments, but discussions are still proceeding in regard to the number of instalments to be paid by the HunanHupei Railway.
Kenya (Railway Employes, Leave)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there is schemes and the total number of persons given employment.
pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 20th March, 1933; col. 29, Vol. 276], supplied the following information:any reason why the 10 days' period of casual leave now granted to the Indian employés of the Kenyan railways should not be brought into line with the 14 days' period granted to Indians in the employ of the Kenya Government; and whether, as this concession would cause no extra expenditure, further investigation can be made into the matter so as to facilitate the grant of extra leave?
The cost of the desired concession to the Kenya and Uganda Railway and Harbours Administration was estimated in 1931 at about £5,000 per anum. I should not feel justified in adding to the financial difficulties under which that Administration is at present working.
Northern Rhodesia (Loan)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has received a report from the Governor upon the representations made to him to the effect that the issue of Northern Rhodesia Government loan stock will overburden local taxation; and will he investigate and report if this issue be necessary for current needs?
I have received no report on the representations made to the Governor. The whole amount of the loan authorised by Northern Rhodesia legislation in 1931 has been issued and there is no intention of making any further issue.
Railway Companies' Employes
asked the Minister of Transport the total number of employés on British railways prior to the passing of the 1921 Railway Act and the corresponding figure at the latest available date?
The total staff employed by railway companies in Great Britain during the week ended 19th March, 1921, was 735,870. The corresponding figure for the week ended 12th March, 1932, was 597,971.